Suspect Sips Beer After Stolen Vehicle Pursuit Comes To Halt Along PCH

ORANGE COUNTY, CA -- A man driving an allegedly stolen vehicle led police on a slow-speed pursuit today that ended in Seal Beach, where he initially refused to come out of the vehicle and repeatedly sipped a beer while talking
to officers before ultimately surrendering.

The pursuit began shortly after 10 a.m.

A Westminster police officer told Fox11 that they spotted the vehicle after being alerted by the Los Angeles Police Department about a stolen vehicle being tracked into Orange County.

Westminster police pursued the driver, who had a female passengers, and deployed spike strips along the way, resulting in at least two flattened tires on the vehicle.

The driver moved at slow speeds northbound on Pacific Coast Highway under the watchful eye of officers, many of whom staged at intersections with guns drawn as the vehicle moved by. The driver ultimately came to a stop on PCH
in Seal Beach and leaned out the driver's side window, shouting at officers behind the vehicle with guns drawn.

The female passenger quickly got out of the vehicle and surrendered to police. Her relationship to the driver wasn't immediately known.

An armored police truck was driven to the front of the vehicle to block its path, while the driver continued to lean out the door, occasionally drinking from a bottle of beer.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the driver exited the vehicle, stripped off his shirt and raised his hands, but continued to shout in an agitated fashion at officers. He ultimately backed toward officers with his hands on his head, dropped to his knees and was taken into custody.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

--City News Service